| dc.description.abstract | In this dissertation, we answer two research question in corporate finance. In the first essay, “A New Benchmark: Relative Performance Evaluation with Total Returns”, we revisit the question of relative performance evaluation (RPE) in executive compensation. While previous literature has commonly rejected the use of RPE when using equity returns as performance measure, we argue that the total return of the firm is a preferable metric in RPE regressions since the exogenous common shocks analyzed in extant theory occur at the asset level. Further, it is plausible that executives are concerned about the total value of the firm since shareholders bear most of the brunt of the agency cost of other stakeholders and executives can hold nontrivial amounts of debt{like instruments. We find strong evidence in support of RPE in the compensation of top executives. In addition, we cannot reject that the magnitude of RPE used in the average contract is optimal. Overall, this essay contributes to the ongoing debate about the efficiency of executive pay.
In the second essay, “Shareholder Bargaining Power, Debt Overhang, and Investment”, we analyze how shareholder bargaining power affects the underinvestment problem caused by debt overhang. Using a dynamic model of strategic bargaining between equity and debt holders following default, we relate firm-specific characteristics, such as the shareholder and bondholder ownership concentration, to debt overhang and investment. Consistent with our predictions, we find expected liquidation values and bondholder ownership concentration enhance the underinvestment effect of debt overhang, while shareholder ownership concentration mitigates it. Our results highlight how shareholder bargaining power in default can affect the underinvestment problem caused by debt overhang.
In the second essay, "Shareholder Bargaining Power, Debt Overhang, and Investment", we analyze how shareholder bargaining power affects the underinvestment problem caused by debt overhang. Using a dynamic model of strategic bargaining between equity and debt holders following default, we relate firm-specific characteristics, such as the shareholder
and bondholder ownership concentration, to debt overhang and investment. Consistent with our predictions, we find expected liquidation values and bondholder ownership concentration enhance the underinvestment effect of debt overhang, while shareholder ownership concentration mitigates it. Our results highlight how shareholder bargaining power in default can affect the underinvestment problem caused by debt overhang. | en |
